This commentary is a brief insight into the apparent conflicts between Gambian Associations and Diaras in Diaspora. What should take precedence? Are Diaras the same as any Association or organisation? Should members of Diaras belong to wider all-inclusive Gambian groups?
The comments are my personal observation after months of dealing Diara members and other Gambian Associations in England. The views express here are not that of the Gambian Association I belong to.
I have had discussions with different Gambian groups, the underlying difficulties we all face is very similar. The facts are that, many Gambians do the unity talk, but few do the actual unity walk. 
The main causes in the lack of proper entrench unity among Gambians in Diaspora can be sum-up in two main category. In my humble opinion.
They are:
1. Those Gambian who don't see any need for joining others in bridging gaps and helping out in unfortunate cases. These sorts of Gambians are the bulk of us. People lack the mentality of being part of a group. The small satellite networks and close likeminded friendship takes precedence over wider Gambianness. These sorts of Gambians never discourage group discussions, but they will never be physically part of any group.
I have visited folks with similar outlook, they entertain you and talk nice, but that is as far as it goes. The analogy many of them make is the slow progress in the way things are done. Since only few active members participate in community affairs, things cannot be done fast, but the disinterested elements would rather stay back and gossip about the paste programs are implemented rather be active.
 
The second group of Gambians i came across are the diara disciple or talibes.
These categories of Gambians are mainly composed of the Wolof brothers and sisters. They tend to find a grouping round a religious cause more fulfilling than a general association affair. I would hasten to say that, this is not a general observation of all the wolof groups in U.K. The folks I came across in London, Birmingham and Coventry, some of them fall into this category.
The similarities between Gambian groups in London, Birmingham, Coventry and other places is that, we all face the same problem. How to reconcile the folks of Daira persuasion with the general overriding Gambian Association interest.
The discussions I had with Diara spiritual leaders always centred on uniting Senegambians, but what always baffled me is the lack of action on their side to persuade their members to be active in wider Gambian groups. The resident Nyaasen spiritual leader in Birmingham, Serign Mustapha Nyass belonging to the Nyass dynasty diaria is a wonderful fellow. The discussions we had are always on how to unite brothers and sisters on a common cause.
Serign Mustapha the Imam of Gambians in the Gambian run mosque in west Midlands realises that, it is not the Diara which lobbied to acquire a mosque but a Gambian association. And authorities deal more with Gambian associations than religious sectarian groups. I will take the opportunity to also ask donations from Gambians in Birmingham and nearby towns to donate generously to the Mosque maintenance and upkeep. You can contact Ansumana Barrow or Lamin Yaffa for ways to offer your help.
In our part in the Gambian association Coventry, we don't promote any religious agenda singularly. We allow our members to organise religious events if they so wish, but at the expense of individuals not the organisation. We want to avoid confrontation and unnecessary arguments.
Not all Muslims are active neither happy with spending a group fund on religious matters. Also, we have some Christian members who may not be happy with their contributions going to non-Christain affairs and vice versa for Muslims.
The Diara leaders who intends for us to be part of their diara is none negotiable call simply because, individuals can be part of a diara and also in umbrella Gambian group, but  a Diara cannot overshadow a Gambian general organisation. Not many people subscribe to the methodology of a daira.
In conclusion, it is important we see each other as Gambians and overlook individual short comings and unite for a better Gambian grouping. Religious affiliation is important, but we should also be part of general Gambian organisation, even if not very active. Diaras have their uses and limitations.
 
There are many brands of Diaras with different weards, our aim in the general Gambian association in England is not to promote political and/or religious differences, and these issues are subjective. But we want to exist for the unifying needs of all Gambians brothers. Things may not always run smoothly, but perfection we all know belongs to the creator of the universe. I take this opportunity to salute executive members of the Gambia united London, executive members of the Gambian Association Birmingham and that of mine in Coventry. This people sacrifice a lot to maintain unity and understanding in our communities.
I have also had meetings with the head of the Nyass diara group in our city, this is to make them understand that, we can hold onto our spiritual side of our every day affairs and still be part of a general Gambian group. It doesn’t mean Gambian organisation wouldn’t function without the membership of diara fellows, but our communal cooperation will help us all.
 I hope that, my brothers/sister with diara adherence will join us and explain the essence of diaras and what its roles are in our socio-cultural wellbeing. I for one don’t know much about diara affairs until; i started reading about it from the books by Professor Kadem Mbake and other materials. 
Thanks
This short comments of mine are not meant to ridicule or chastise any person or diara, it is meant to highlight a simmering difference between Gambians in the U.K. the differences may be just ideological which can be smoothen with regular and open dialogues. 
Suntou Touray ( secretary general Gambian association Coventry)

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